From the Foster Coach Sales Facebook page:
Brand new custom Horton conversion on an International chassis
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New ambulance for Hoffman Estates
#1 by harry on May 22, 2019 - 8:24 PM
tim that is true I remember going to orland and that is what they have but they seem to replace theirs more often than smaller towns like niles has a 2007 09 14 and 16 ihc while they are talking of a new one I don’t think one hasd been ordered
#2 by Tim on May 22, 2019 - 4:04 PM
I dont know Harry. Orland has run E series ambos since the late 80’s. They went from a E350 to an E450 in the mid 90’s and of course gas-diesel-gas.
They do just under 10,000 runs a year and the E series has held up just fine for them.
#3 by rj on May 22, 2019 - 2:58 PM
The FAA does not own Chicago’s ARFF rigs. Just like the NFPA, the FAA provides consensus standards on rig specs, that”s all.
#4 by Mike on May 22, 2019 - 2:29 PM
Thanks marty. I knew they kept fire rigs there because they are FAA property didn’t think they kept ambos there because they’re not specialty pieces.
#5 by Marty Coyne on May 22, 2019 - 8:19 AM
Mike, yes the city does have dedicated spare ambulances for O’Hare. They are the ex A-59 and A-26 Brauns, shop number AVF-105 and AVF-107. They are numbered on the side F105 and F107. They are dedicated O’Hare spares and stored in the rescue stations when not needed.
#6 by Cmk420 on May 22, 2019 - 7:38 AM
It is truly amazing to see how this “conversation” went from being about Hoffman Estates getting a new ambulance to which type of ambulance is better than another!! Unreal!
#7 by Mike on May 22, 2019 - 6:46 AM
Harry the city doesn’t have dedicated spare ambulances for o hare. The spare pool is exactly that a spare pool. The fire apparatus at ohare have spares there because the FAA actually owns the fire equipment and due to FAA regs it would be impossible to go to fleet to change out rigs. The gas motors of today are better then they were before. Before we Diesel engines everything was gasoline powered.
#8 by harry on May 21, 2019 - 11:30 PM
well tim with a village like niles with over 8000 calls a year that is a lot for a gas engine
also Chicago fd at ohare right now has all 16 and 17 e series and there reserse an old 09 f series and when I asked is that your only reserve and they said this was better than the 14 e series 59 had at ohare and it only had about 100 000 mi that is not a lot of miles considering they still have f series in reserve with 250 000 miles
#9 by Tim on May 21, 2019 - 6:42 PM
Harry, why would you think an E-series wouldn’t hold up?
#10 by harry on May 21, 2019 - 3:10 PM
well mike it was a demo that I had seen at nyc fleet services it was a brand new 2020 f 550
also joe I was told by the ff and it varies so I don’t know for sure but if I were to guess I would say Kenworth but I have been told Kenworth freightliner or e series but based on there calls I don’t see e series working to good they are past 8000 calls a year so time will tell
#11 by Michael m on May 21, 2019 - 12:47 PM
Nice looking rig, I am sure it will serve them well.
#12 by Joe on May 21, 2019 - 8:56 AM
Harry what is niles switching to
#13 by tim on May 21, 2019 - 7:15 AM
Mike you’re absolutely right. No matter what the chassis, they still all ride like $%^@. Facing backwards on the stretcher doesn’t help what the ride feels like either.
But what also doesn’t help are those guys taking corners on 2 wheels to get to the hospital for a broken thumb. We all have those guys.
#14 by Cmk420 on May 20, 2019 - 11:41 PM
To be honest, as long it does the job and it’s what Hoffman Estates wants to buy, then it should not matter what type of ambulance they have. Departments are allowed to make changes when they think it’s time to do so; that’s their prerogative.
#15 by Ken on May 20, 2019 - 11:05 PM
That’s a nice looking ambulance! I wonder if the roll up cabinet will be for SCBA and turn out gear as a clean cab concept away from medical gear/supplies? I’ve worked in E & F series as well as international and C4500; least favorite was the E series gas engine..not a lot of power and seemed to suck gas like a fish. Hope it serves them well!
#16 by Mike on May 20, 2019 - 10:28 PM
Once again Harry you’re having a tantrum. Show me where you can get a new F550 for 170,000.00 because our last one we bought was 225,000 without the auto loader. So you rode in 1 international as a patient and hated it, sorry. I’ve worked on fords, internationals and frieghtliners for 21 years. Guess what? They all ride crappy. When someone can design and build an ambulance that will ride nice and be reliable they will corner the market. We have done air ride, liquid spring, regular ride, heavy duty, medium duty, different tires, shocks, etc. they all ride the same.
#17 by Martin on May 20, 2019 - 10:04 PM
I can stand by international. Our company has been running internationals since the 90s. What makes us keep going back is that the fact that international has very reliable trucks. I’m not going to say they are perfect because every brand has issues. The max force engines werent the best but for the most part the Terrastars we have/had made it up to 200,000 miles with some minor issues. So for the last 20 plus years we’ve been buying mainly international. We’ve tried freightliner and werent satisfied with the way they handled issues we had with their trucks.
#18 by harry on May 20, 2019 - 9:05 PM
mike c that is true they have had them for years but also they had pierce for many years and now they are switching
#19 by harry on May 20, 2019 - 9:03 PM
well mike I have no attitude problem and yes I have been to Hoffman est pw and yes they have international as of when I was last there I have no plans to go back to Hoffman estates but mike at the same time u can get an f550 ambo for about 170 000 this ihc is likely 250 000 how does that make sense international also have a terrible sounding engine and have a ton of problems trust me I have rode in an ihc as a patient it was terrible as oppose to the fords which are very smooth
#20 by Mike C on May 20, 2019 - 6:56 PM
Harry is easily surprised. I’m not surprised at all. Hoffman has used International for years.
What a long wheelbase on this ambulance. What will the compartment on the cab be used for?
#21 by Mike on May 20, 2019 - 5:59 PM
Harry put the brakes on the attitude kid, …. Who cares if everyone else is changing, I’m sure you know that HE public works uses a majority of international so maintenance is probably easy as Working on an ambulance or a dump truck all have the same drive train and parts. So even overhead is a lot less.
#22 by harry on May 20, 2019 - 4:55 PM
well Sebastian because many depts. that have had ihc for years are going ford or fl for instance Schaumburg palatine wheeling Evanston and soon to be niles to name a few
#23 by Sebastian on May 20, 2019 - 4:09 PM
Why r u surprised Harru?
#24 by harry on May 20, 2019 - 3:37 PM
I am surprised they have stuck with ihc